Here is our first look at Joaquin Phoenix in the Joker movie

Todd Phillips (The Hangover) has begun shooting Joker. Joaquin Phoenix plays the title role in the origin film and the first image of him has been released. Phillips co-wrote the film with Scott Silver. It will look at “the iconic arch nemesis and is an original, standalone story not seen before on the big screen. Phillips’ exploration of Arthur Fleck (Joquin Phoenix), a man disregarded by society, is not only a gritty character study, but also a broader cautionary tale.”

Joker is being produced by Phillips and Bradley Cooper under their Joint Effort banner, and longtime Martin Scorsese producer Emma Tillinger Koskoff. It is executive produced by Richard Baratta, Joseph Garner and Bruce Berman. Phillips is joined by director of photography Lawrence Sher (The Hangover), production designer Mark Friedberg (The Amazing Spider-Man 2), editor Jeff Groth (The Hangover), and Oscar-winning costume designer Mark Bridges (The Artist).

Jared Leto will not appear in this Joker film. He is due back in a Suicide Squad sequel at some point, along with another standalone Joker movie that will be separate from Phoenix’s Joker project.

With the current mess that is the Warner Bros and DC cinematic universe, part of me know thinks they should just reboot it all with this and have everything set in the 1980s! They could even keep Wonder Woman 1984 and that’s how they could bridge the gap!